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Note-taking in Class for High School Students

Educational Research

Updated on Feb 11, 2016

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Unfortunately, note-taking is a learning technique that is rarely taught in schools. Teachers suppose that it comes naturally or somebody has already taught students to make it properly. An ability to make effective notes can help you succeed in all types of your schoolwork: from preparing some writing assignment to passing exams and tests. Improve your note-taking skills using the helpful tips.

Note-taking in class has 3 stages:

1. Preparing

Make sure your pen writes well. If you often use a pencil, get a sharpened one and have an eraser at hand. Get notebooks for each subject, so you won’t have problems with the organization of notes. Some students have one notebook they use in class. At home, they copy everything into the relevant notebooks. That is a good option for those, whose handwriting is, to say the least, imperfect and with many blots. It may be time-consuming, but take it as an investment in your academic success. Apply this method if you are sure your will use it regularly.

2. Taking notes

Some students try to record every word of the teacher or a complete chapter. That is wrong. The objective of the note-taking technique is to make a study easier and quicker. That means that your notes shouldn’t capture everything, they should capture truly important things.

Write down new information. Leave out of the notes everything you already know. Define noteworthy material that is likely to be used later in your school assignments. Look for the prompts in the teacher’s repetitions or illustrations. If he or she writes anything on the board, copy it down. Pay attention to the key points:

• Dates of events
• Names of people
• Definitions
• Theories
• Arguments and debates
• Examples and exercises
• Other important stuff
• Your own questions.

Speaking of the last point, it will remind you to ask the teacher for some explanation in class or after it. Or you may look something up later.

Neat handwriting and putting down the data in point form or paragraphs will save your time. But if you concentrate too much on taking your notes right, you might miss some key points. So rewrite them if needed. It will take time and practice until you will have studied to manage your writing alongside with being an active listener.

Use symbols and abbreviations to faster your writing.
Leave a blank space (usually called “a recall column”) for additional notes or writing your feedback on the topic.

3. Review

After class: Look through your notes. Fill in the gaps, finish the sentences. Clarify possible questions before the teacher leaves the classroom. Compare the notes with your classmate’s writing to fix accuracy and completeness.

At home: Do a further research. Add important things to the notes while doing your homework. Verify them against the textbooks. Write your impressions on the topic. Evaluate your understanding by retelling it in your own words.

Mastering the note-taking technique from writessay4me.co.uk requires regular practice and persistence. But you will improve your learning style using it. Moreover, you can adapt it for yourself and develop your own tips. Study smart!
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